PAC: Series Sepang race one report

Victory for Thompson as field impresses.
Sepang, Malaysia -- Ireland's Gary Thompson (16/E-Rain Racing) took
victory in the opening round of the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific season
today, after a superb 10-lap race run in support of the 2009 Formula...

Victory for Thompson as field impresses.

Sepang, Malaysia -- Ireland's Gary Thompson (16/E-Rain Racing) took
victory in the opening round of the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific season
today, after a superb 10-lap race run in support of the 2009 Formula 1
Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix and in which the entire field of young
drivers impressed.

Second was Australian Chris Wootton (20/Eurasia Motorsport), who
persevered after losing a front wing early on in the race, with
Indonesia's Rio Haryanto (16/Questnet Team Qi-Meritus) third across the
line from 5th on the grid.

At the start of the eventful season-opener, Rookie Thompson lost his pole
position advantage, with Wootton also getting what he later described as
a "not exactly flash" start for the pair. It was Thompson's team
mate, Fahmi Ilyas (17) of Malaysia who shot off the grid from the second
row, with fellow countryman Calvin Wong (17/Team Holzer PFX) in hot
pursuit.

As the Malaysian pair led the pack, it looked as though a local one-two
finish was on the cards, when it all went wrong on lap 4. Both drivers
appeared to miss the braking point and spun, rejoining the race but back
down the order. That handed the race lead back to pole-man Thompson, who
set about pulling out a gap from Wootton who was struggling with a
damaged car.

Meanwhile, Haryanto was putting in a spirited drive through the field
having dropped down to 6th on the opening lap, and was running 3rd by the
middle of the race.

Formula BMW Junior Axcil Jefferies (Eurasia Motorsport) of Zimbabwe made
an impressive debut, just missing out on a podium finish in 4th and
taking runner-up in the Rookie Cup, ahead of fellow Rookie Dustin Sofyan
(Questnet Team Qi-Meritus) of Indonesia. Jefferies' finish also helped
his team to the top of the Team Classification, giving Eurasia Motorsport
an 11 point lead over Questnet Team Qi-Meritus after just one race.

Thompson, who has got his season off to a near-perfect start, admitted
that luck had played a part in his victory: "The start was terrible for
me and Chris! I was lucky Chris took off his front wing, and I was lucky
Fahmi spun, which put me in the lead."

Jefferies was pleased after the first race of his career, and a little
relieved: "It's a decent start to the season. The start was the best
part, although it wasn't a particularly good one. I didn't know what to
expect as my practice starts had been disastrous! The standard of racing
amongst the field is really high, everyone respected each other."

Fellow Junior Steel Guiliana (17/AUS/Motaworld), is facing an almost
vertical learning curve this weekend having had just a couple of days
testing, far less than the other newcomers.

The opening race of the season had arguably the lowest rate of attrition
ever, with only one driver failing to finish after Rookie Muhamad Alif
Jafri (17/MAS/Team Holzer PFX) spun out early on.

The results remain provisional, pending confirmation.

Thompson, who leads both the Driver Classification and Rookie Cup
standings, will start Round 2 from pole position tomorrow, with Wootton
alongside. Ilyas, who lines up next to Jefferies on the second row, will
have the chance to remedy his error today, but with rival Wong and the
in-form Haryanto hot on his heels, it will be another fascinating 10
laps.